Kern County

What Kern County does

Kern County is a county government and political subdivision of the State of California, established in 1866 and headquartered in Bakersfield. It provides comprehensive public services to county residents through a Board of Supervisors governing five supervisorial districts and a network of specialized departments including Animal Services, Public Health, Human Services, Veterans Service, Sheriff's Office, Parks and Recreation, Assessor-Recorder, Public Works, and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. The county serves a broad resident base across Bakersfield and unincorporated communities such as Ridgecrest, Tehachapi, Mojave, Delano, and Lake Hughes, with 5,001-10,000 employees delivering services spanning public safety, health and human services, property and vital records, economic development, emergency management, and recreational facilities.

The county's core digital platform is kerncounty.com, built on Granicus technology, which provides 24/7 resident access to property tax payments, vital records ordering (via VitalChek), benefit applications (CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs), park reservations, public records requests, and job applications (via NEOGOV). Supporting technology includes a PowerBI-powered OpenKern Transparency Portal for financial data, Accela-based code compliance portals, GIS interactive mapping, the ReadyKern emergency alert system, Kern County TV for government broadcasts, and iOS/Android mobile apps for the Sheriff's Office. The county operates an annual budget process, publishes Board of Supervisors meeting agendas and video archives, and maintains active social media presence across Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Kern County's revenue model is diversified across property taxes, transactional fees (vital records, parks reservations, permits, recording and document fees), intergovernmental transfers, and federal funding including American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund allocations. The county's "other agencies" include Kern Medical (teaching hospital), Kern Council of Governments, KCERA (pension system), and Superior Court. Strategic partnerships span federal and state veterans affairs agencies, animal welfare organizations (Pasadena Humane, spcaLA), economic development entities (AdvanceKern, Kern EDC, Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce), and technology vendors powering the county's digital services ecosystem.

Name

Kern County

Legal name

County of Kern

Website

https://kerncounty.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1866

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Kern County is a California county government headquartered in Bakersfield, providing public services including public safety, health and human services, vital records, animal services, parks, veterans benefits, and emergency management to residents across five supervisorial districts and multiple unincorporated communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

County Government Services

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (9211), Executive Offices (92111), Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Administration of Public Health Programs (923120)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Municipal Tax & Revenue Administration (Local) (BPAIACAD), County/District/Local Health Departments (HLAJAAAB), Land Administration & Cadastral Services (Public Land Records, Parcel Management) (BPAIANAH)

Keywords

• County government services
• Public administration
• Vital records services
• Property tax administration
• Public safety services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bakersfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Property taxes collected by the Treasurer-Tax Collector fund a significant portion of county services. The county operates a property tax portal for online payments.
2. Vital Records Fees: Fees for birth certificates ($31/copy), death certificates ($26/copy), marriage certificates ($19/copy), and fetal death certificates ($23/copy). Online orders through VitalChek include additional fees.
3. Parks and Recreation Fees: Campsite reservations, group camp reservations, group picnic area reservations, building rentals, ball field reservations, boat permits, and golf course fees at county parks including Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area, Kern River Campground, Hart Memorial Park, Lake Ming, and Lake Isabella.
4. Recording and Document Fees: Fees for recording documents, property assessment appeals, fictitious business name filings, and marriage license issuance.
5. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds: Federal Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) funding received through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, designated for COVID-19 impacts on county services and capital projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Kern County is a county government entity providing statutory public administration services to approximately 900,000 residents across its 8,161 square miles, including public safety, property tax administration, vital records (birth/marriage/death certificates), animal services, parks and recreation, veterans benefits, human and social services, public health, emergency management, and economic development. Services are delivered through an integrated digital portal (kerncounty.com), in-person county offices in Bakersfield, and department-specific service locations across unincorporated communities.

Product overview

Kern County government operates a unified web platform providing comprehensive public services to residents. The core product is the county government website (kerncounty.com) which serves as the central portal for all county services. Supporting products include: the OpenKern Transparency Portal for financial transparency; Vital Records Services for certificate ordering; Public Records Requests for government document access; Kern County Careers Portal for employment; COVID-19 Resources Dashboard for public health information; County Budget Services for financial planning; Doing Business With Kern County for vendor relations; Kern County TV for government broadcasts; ReadyKern for emergency alerts; AdvanceKern for economic development; Parks and Recreation Reservations for outdoor recreation; Veterans Benefits Services for military benefits; Emergency Operations Plan for disaster preparedness; Homeless Collaborative for housing support; and GIS/Interactive Mapping for geographic data. These products function as integrated modules within the county's digital services ecosystem, enabling residents to access government services, conduct transactions, obtain information, and engage with county governance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vital Records Services Online and in-person ordering system for certified copies of birth certificates ($31/copy), death certificates ($26/copy), marriage certificates ($19/copy), and fetal death certificates ($23/copy) for Kern County residents. Online orders processed through VitalChek with additional fees; in-person purchases at the Hall of Records in Bakersfield.
• Property Tax Administration Property tax collection and online payment services operated by the Kern County Treasurer-Tax Collector, funding a significant portion of county services. Property owners can pay online or by wire through the county's property tax portal, with amounts determined by assessed values.
• Parks and Recreation Reservations Online reservation system for county parks including individual/family campsites, group camps, group picnic areas, building rentals, ball field reservations, boat permits, and golf course fees at Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area, Kern River Campground, Hart Memorial Park, Lake Ming, and Lake Isabella. Cancellations handled by phone at (661) 868-7000.
• Veterans Benefits Services Comprehensive veterans services assisting eligible veterans and their dependents with federal VA benefits including disability compensation, pension, medical treatment, burial benefits, GI Bill education, vocational rehabilitation, home loan guarantees, and government life insurance, plus California state benefits including Cal-Vet Home Loans, College Fee Waiver, Dependents Education Assistance, and Veterans Homes access.
• Animal Services Animal welfare services provided by Kern County Animal Services including adoptions, lost and stray animal recovery, emergency foster care, animal welfare violation reporting, and participation in multi-agency animal rescue operations. Operations extend countywide including support to other jurisdictions (e.g., 2026 Lake Hughes rescue of ~700 animals with LA County, Pasadena Humane, and spcaLA).
• ReadyKern Emergency Alert System Emergency preparedness and alert notification system providing Kern County residents with real-time emergency notifications via text, email, and phone for weather emergencies, evacuations, and public safety events. Free subscription service via the county website.
• Public Records Requests Centralized system for requesting public records from various Kern County departments including Fire Department, Public Health, LAFCo, Sheriff's Office, and General Records through the NextRequest platform.
• Code Compliance and Permitting Code compliance and permitting services for citizens to submit property complaints in unincorporated Kern County areas, covering code violations, construction/zoning, housing, and environmental health via the Accela-powered citizen access portal.
• Kern County Careers Portal Job application and recruitment system offering permanent employment, public safety jobs, extra-help/temporary employment, and volunteer opportunities through the NEOGOV applicant tracking platform. Job interest cards and salary/position information also provided.
• AdvanceKern Economic Development Initiative Economic development program administered through the County Administrative Office providing information on Kern County business recruitment, job growth incentive programs, and economic development resources.
• Recording and Document Services Recording and document services operated by the Kern County Clerk and Assessor-Recorder including document recording, property assessment appeals, fictitious business name filings, and marriage license issuance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports 5 supervisorial districts and multiple unincorporated communities with government services

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• Pasadena HumanenotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2026Pasadena Humane partnered with Kern County Animal Services as part of a massive multi-agency animal welfare rescue operation. Over 70 animal care staff responded to support Los Angeles County in rescuing approximately 700 dogs and cats from a Lake Hughes, California facility. The partnership was coordinated through the LA County Department of Animal Care and Control search warrant execution.
• spcaLAnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2026spcaLA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Los Angeles) partnered with Kern County Animal Services in a joint animal welfare operation alongside Pasadena Humane and LA County authorities. More than 70 animal care staff from multiple agencies responded to the Lake Hughes rescue of approximately 700 animals.
• Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and ControlnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2026Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control executed a major animal rescue operation at Lake Hughes, California with support from Kern County Animal Services, Pasadena Humane, and spcaLA. LA County led the search warrant and coordinated the multi-agency response for approximately 700 rescued dogs and cats.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKern County Veterans Service office serves as the local point of contact for all federal VA benefits including disability compensation, pension, medical treatment, burial benefits, GI Bill education, vocational rehabilitation, home loan guarantees, and government life insurance. The partnership enables veterans to access federal benefits through local county assistance.
• California Department of Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level veterans partner providing Cal-Vet Home Loans, College Fee Waiver programs for children of disabled veterans, Dependents Education Assistance, and access to Veterans Homes of California. Kern County Veterans Service office assists veterans in accessing these state-administered benefits.
• Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency within Kern County providing mental health and substance use services to veterans and other county residents. Listed as a governmental partner under Kern County Veterans Service office.
• Kern County Aging and Adult ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner department providing services to seniors including Meals on Wheels, Adult Protective Services, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and other aging services. Listed as a governmental partner under the Veterans Service office.
• Kern County Animal ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty department providing animal welfare services including adoptions, lost and stray animal recovery, and emergency foster care. Partnered in the Veterans Service network for veterans who may need animal-related assistance.
• Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty department providing human services including CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and child support. Listed as a governmental partner supporting veterans and their families who may need coordinated social services.
• Employers' Training ResourcenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty workforce development agency providing job training and employment services to veterans seeking civilian employment, job seekers, and local businesses. Listed as a partner under both Veterans Service and the Kern County employment ecosystem.
• AdvanceKern (Kern County Business Recruitment & Job Growth Incentive Initiative)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerKern County's official business recruitment and job growth incentive initiative managed through the County Administrative Office Economic Development division. Attracts businesses to Kern County and administers incentive programs for job creation.
• Greater Bakersfield Chamber of CommercenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe chamber co-established the COVID-19 Business Resource Response Team with Kern County, City of Bakersfield, and Kern EDC to support the local business community during the pandemic with resource navigation and business support services.
• Kern EDC (Economic Development Corporation)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development organization partnering with Kern County on business recruitment, the COVID-19 Business Resource Response Team, and regional economic development initiatives including the AdvanceKern program.
• Business Resource Response TeamnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-organization partnership comprising City of Bakersfield, Kern County, Greater Bakersfield Chamber, and Kern EDC, created to assist businesses impacted by COVID-19. The team helps businesses access resources, navigate regulations, and address business needs. Contact: [email protected], (661) 336-6860.
• Homeless Collaborative (BKRHC)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerBakersfield/Kern County Homeless Collaborative focuses on housing-first approaches to address homelessness, stating that when people are housed first, basic needs are met faster, helping them live independently and minimizing costs to communities. Kern County partners with this initiative.
• GranicuscoreTechnology or IntegrationGranicus provides the digital platform powering Kern County's official website, live streaming of Board of Supervisors meetings (Kern County TV / Granicus Live), and the OpenKern Transparency Portal. Granicus is the technology vendor enabling the county's digital government services.
• VitalChekcoreTechnology or IntegrationVitalChek is the online ordering platform for Kern County vital records (birth, marriage, death certificates). The county website links to VitalChek for online ordering with additional fees. VitalChek enables 24/7 vital records purchasing.
• American Rescue Plan Act (Federal Government)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKern County received Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The County Administrative Office developed a plan focused on COVID-19 impacts on county services and community capital projects, tracked through a Community Investment Dashboard.
• California Veterans Assistance FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization listed as a partner providing additional resources and support to veterans in Kern County alongside the county's Veterans Service office.
• Wounded Heroes FundnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit providing food assistance and other support specifically to veterans in Kern County. Listed as both a partner for veterans services and a food assistance resource during COVID-19.
• Armed Forces Support FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization listed as a partner providing support to veterans and military families in Kern County through the Veterans Service office network.
• Patriots of KernnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal non-profit organization listed as a partner supporting veterans in Kern County through the Veterans Service office partnership network.
• Kern County Veterans CollaborativenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal collaborative organization bringing together veterans service providers in Kern County to coordinate and improve access to veteran resources and benefits.
• Honor Flight Kern CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization dedicated to transporting veterans to Washington D.C. to visit war memorials, listed as a partner in the Kern County Veterans Service office network.
• Associated Veterans Honor GuardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization providing military funeral honors, listed as a partner in the Kern County Veterans Service office network.
• Taft CollegenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner providing veterans and their dependents with access to higher education and veteran support services, listed under CSU Bakersfield Veterans Success Center network.
• Cerro Coso CollegenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner providing veterans and their dependents with access to higher education and veteran support services, listed under CSU Bakersfield Veterans Success Center network.
• Kern County Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty fire department partner in emergency operations, emergency preparedness, CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) volunteer program, and animal emergency preparedness under the Kern County Flood Information and emergency management programs.
• Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning agency listed as an 'Other Agency' of Kern County government, responsible for transportation planning, regional coordination, and federally mandated planning activities in the Kern County region.
• Kern County Employee's Retirement Association (KCERA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent public pension system providing retirement benefits to Kern County employees, listed as an 'Other Agency' of Kern County government.
• Kern MedicalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKern County's teaching hospital and trauma center operated as a public hospital, listed as an 'Other Agency' of Kern County government providing medical services to county residents.
• Superior Court of California, County of KerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Superior Court operates independently but is listed as an 'Other Agency' of Kern County government. The county provides court facility information, case access links, and court-related services through its website.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• San Bernardino County: Large Southern California county with comparable geographic challenges, similar population scale, and overlapping service portfolio including public health, animal services, parks, and code compliance. Direct peer for scale and rural-mixed urban county operations.
• Kings County: Immediate geographic neighbor to Kern County with similar Central Valley agricultural profile, comparable population scale, and overlapping services. Provides the most directly comparable benchmark for Kern County's operating model and service portfolio.
• Monterey County: California county government with comparable Board of Supervisors structure, comprehensive service portfolio, and similar population scale. Direct comparable for mid-size California county digital services and public records operations.
• Los Angeles County: Largest California county government, operating under a similar Board of Supervisors governance structure with comparable service portfolios including health, human services, animal care, and sheriff operations. Provides the relevant benchmark for large-scale California county digital service delivery and emergency operations.
• Riverside County: Large Southern California county with rapid population growth, comprehensive service delivery model, and significant geographic dispersion. Comparable for scale of operations, public health emergency response, and digital service platform investments.
• Tulare County: Central Valley neighbor with similar agricultural economy, comparable rural-urban mix, and overlapping service portfolio including health and human services, animal services, and vital records. Most directly comparable for mid-size California county operations.
• Fresno County: Central Valley neighbor with similar agricultural-economy profile, comparable population scale, and overlapping services including public health, behavioral health, social services, and agricultural-related regulation. Strong comparable for Central Valley county operations.
• Imperial County: California county government with comparable agricultural-economy profile, public health focus, and rural service delivery challenges. Comparable for California-Mexico border-adjacent county operations and human services administration.
• Santa Barbara County: California county government with similar Board of Supervisors governance, comprehensive service delivery, and comparable mid-size population. Direct comparable for California county digital transformation and service portfolio breadth.
• Ventura County: California county government providing comparable services including animal services, public health, vital records, and parks. Strong comparable for digital service delivery and emergency operations planning in a coastal California context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CountyofKern
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/officialkerncounty
• Facebookfacebook.com/CountyofKern
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kern-county
• Instagraminstagram.com/yourkerncounty

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kern County